Condenser heated compartment



17,1946. C, M, E, Hol-FMANf 2,412,774

CONDENSER HEATED COMPARTMENEL` Filed Sept. 10, -1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 17, 1946;

c. M. E. Hol-'FMAN 2,412,774 CONDENSER HEATD COMPARTMENT -Filed sept.4 1o. 194s 2 sheets-sneu 2 Y f. Hoffman,

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. pression given Patented Dec. l?, H94@ muren stares iwrerrr aint-n f 2,412,77t CQNDENSER HEATED GOMPARTMET f Charles M. E. Hoffman, Annapolis, Md. i Application September 10, 1943, Serial No. 501,903

` This invention relates to improvements in cabinet construction and, with regard to its more specific aspects, to cabinets which are adapted e claims. (ci. s2-116) to be heated by the so-called waste heat of refrigfrigerant vapor is compressed, it becomes heated and usually this heat of compression is released in the condenser and dissipated to atmosphere as waste heat.

The present invention pertains to the utilization of this so-called waste heat, particularly for the purpose of preserving foods subject to spoilage or deterioration due to absorption of moisture in the atmosphere or other sources, it being a principal object of the invention to provide simple and effective means by which such Waste heat of refrigerating equipment may be utilized to heat a storage space sumciently to superheat the water vapor of the air within said space, irrespective of exterior atmospheric conditions. In

its more specificaspects, the invention contem.

plates and seeks to provide a cabinet, which may be formed` integral with or separate from the heat insulated chamber of a refrigerator. which is capable of being heated by the heat of comup by the compressed refrigerant in the condenser of the refrigerating apparatus. The invention yhas for a further object the provision of a cabinet whose construction readily lends itself to being heated by the condenser of refrigerating apparatus.

Other objects will bein part obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out in connection with the following analysis of this invention wherein is illustrated an embodiment of the invention in detail.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a' refrigeratorheating cabinet combination according to the invention, in which the cabinet is mounted on the top of the refrigerator;

Fig. 2 is a. more or less diagrammatic View of the interior of the refrigerator-heatingcabinet combination illustrated in Fig. 1;

refrigeration system Fig. 3 is a perspective heated cabinet, illustrating the connections by which thel condenser may be connected to the refrigerating equipment:

Fig. 4 is a detail illustrating the construction of thev cabinet wall; A

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a :modiiied i arrangement of a refrigerator of the top sealedunit type, with7 a heating cabinet enclosing the Fig. 6 isa diagrammatic view illustrating still another arrangement according to the invention of a heating cabinet separate from the refriger's ator.

e5 u'the condenser coil through a ,gie piece of household .chamber have Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the views, and particularly to the modification illustrated in Figs. l4, reference character it indicates generally one form of a refrigeratorheating cabinet combination according 'to the invention, in which -the heating cabinet is mounted on the top of the refrigerator proper in such manner that the combination provides a sinequipment. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the refrigerator proper provides a heatinsulated cooling chamber il mounted one. base i 2 in which is disposed a presser It. While the motor i3 driving a comdetails of the cooling not been illustrated, it will be understood that such may follow conventional construction of spaced inner and outer shells, and heatinsulating material-between the the outer shell being extended downwardly to motor-compressor unit. As shown, an evaporator it is arranged in the upper central portion of the insulated chamber, the refrigerant vapor being withdrawn therefrom through tubing ll by the compressor pressed in the compressor i4 and passed through tubing I8 to a condenser it whereinit is cooled and liquefied.

`According to the invention, the condenser consists of a plurality of convolutions or coils of tubing disposed in rectangular fashion to extend between sheets 20, 22 of good heat-conducting metal, which may be corrugated as shown and which are shaped to form the side, top and bottom.k walls of an uil-insulated cabinet 'generally indicated at 23. As shown in Fig. 2, `the cabinet is mounted on the top of the heat=insulated coolbeing connected ing chamber, the condenser coil to the tubing i8 by a suitable union it (Fig. 3), the cooled and liquefied refrigerant passingfrom view of a condensershells,

for the' I4. The so withdrawn vapor is cornunion 26 tcV an coil about thecabinet and expansion valve 28 (Fig. 2) and thence to the evaporator. As indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the outer shell of the refrigerator is extended upwardly to house the cabinet at it-s sides and to close the rear thereof, suitable openings 3l! being provided in the shell sides to permit outside air .to circulate around the cabinet. As shown, the

cabinet front is closed by a hinged door 32 which provides access to the interior of the cabinet enclosure.

Due to the effective coiling of the condenser the disposition of the condenser coil between the sheets 20, 22 forming the major walls of the cabinet, the condenser is in heat-exchange relationship both with the outer wall sheet 20, which is at about the temperature of the atmosphere, and with the inner sheet 22. As the result of this heat-exchange relationship, the condenser functions in usual manner to liquefy the compressed refrigerant vapor passing therethrough, and at the same time its heat of compression is withdrawn by at least the inner wall of the cabinet and utilized as a means of superheating the water vapor of air within the y cabinet enclosure. Accordingly. the cabinet provides an effectively dry storage space for foods subject to spoilage or deterioration as a result of moisture absorbed by them from the atmosphere or other sources, the heat abstracted from the condenser serving to maintain in dry condition the air within the cabinet. To prevent over-heating of thecabinet space, the door 32 is preferably provided with louvres 34 through which relatively cool exterior air may pass into the cabinet.

According to the Fig. modification, a condenser-heated cabinet 35 as described is positioned at the top of a refrigerator of the top sealed unit type and in enclosing relation about the sealed unit thereof. As with the Fig. 2 combination, the compressor 36 withdraws the refrigerant vapor .from the evaporator 3l and passes it to the condenser 38 having heat-exchange relationship with the cabinet walls, wherein it is liqueed and cooled and its heat of compression utilized to heat the interior of the cabinet.

A Inthe modification illustrated in Fig. 6, the condenser-heated cabinet 40 is arranged as a unit separate from the insulated cooling chamber 42. According to the modified construction, the cabinet 40 is mounted on a base 4I housing the motor-compressor unit, the separate insulated chamber 42 containing the evaporator 43. The

compressor 44 withdraws the refrigerant vapor,

through a tubing 45 and passes it through the condenser coil 46 having heat-exchange relationship with the Walls of the cabinet d0, from whence vthe liquefied and cooled refrigerant passes I through tubing 41 and expansion valve 48 to the evaporator. Due to the physical separation of the insulated chamber 42 of the refrigerator or `ice-boxfrom the condenser cabinet and the fact that the tubing 45, 4l extending therebetween lmay have unlimited length, the modified arrangement permits of a high degree of flexibility in the relative positioning of the'condenser cabinet and the refrigerator.

While in the above description and accompanying drawings the refrigerating equipment has been illustrated and described as being of the compressor-condenser-evaporator. type, in which, the waste heat of compression is utilized as a source of heat for the cabinet, it is to be understood that the invention contemplates the utilization of the waste heat of refrigerating systems of space provided as by a cabinet construction having composite walls as aforesaid 'It is to be observed, further, that cabinets heated by the waste heat of refrigerating equipment may be usefully employed for purposes other than for the preservation of food studs which are subject to deterioration by moisture in the air. Accordingly, it will be understood that the invention is directed broadly to the heating of an enclosed space and/or to the drying of air within such space by the so-called waste heats of refrigerating apparatus, regardless of the purpose for which the space is ultimately employed.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. l

Iclaim: f

1.'1n a mechanical refrigerator, the combination of refrigerant condensing means, a cabinet having'un-insulated walls providing an enclosure,

said walls comprising spaced sheets of heat con ductive material, and said condensing means extending into the space between said sheets and having heat exchange relationship therewith.

2. In a refrigerator, in combination, a heat in- 4 sulated chamber, cooling means therefor including an evaporator and a condenser, a cabinet providing an enclosure, the walls of the cabinet being formed from sheets of heat-conductive material disposed in spaced relation, andsaid con-y denser extending into the space between said sheets `and having heat exchange relationship therewith.

3. A refrigerator-heating cabinet combination as set forth in claim 2, wherein the ,cabinet is disposed on the top of the heat-insulated chamber. i

4. A refrigerator-heating cabinet combination as set forth in claim 2, wherein the cooling means-includes a top sealed unit disposed yon the top of the insulated chamber, and wherein the cabinet, also disposed on the top of the chamber, encloses said sealed unit.

5. A refrigerator-heating cabinet combination as set forth in claim 2, wherein the cabinet and condenser are arranged as a separate unit from the insulated chamber and the evaporator therefor.

6. In a cabinet adapted to be heated by the condenser of a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of cabinet having its major Walls formed of heat-conductive material, and a condenser coil coiled about and having heat exchange relationship with said walls, said coil having connections with the compressor and evaporator of said apparatus. l

7. In a cabinet adapted to be heated by the ccndenser of a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of spaced inner and outer sheets of conductive material shaped to form the major walls of said cabinet, and a condenser coil disposed between and in heat exchange relationship with both the outer and inner sheets, said coil having maybe' amarre..

connections with the compressor and evaporator of the apparatus.

8. In a mechanical refrigerator, the combination of refrigerant condensing means, a cabinet having uninsulated Walls providing an enclosure, and said condensing means being effectively coiled about said cabinet in heat exchange relationship with said walls and being thereby op;

erative to heat the air within the enclosure.

9. In the combination with a refrigerating sys- "tem incorporating a source of waste heat, aV

nection between said source and said walls, the

construction and arrangement being such that said walls utilize the waste heat from said source to heat the air within the enclosure.

CHARLES M. E. HOFFMAN. 

